Founded a quarter of a century ago, Anima Mundi reaches its 25th edition this year, reaffirming its status as one of Europe’s most important sacred music festivals. The 2026 edition, scheduled from 8 September to 2 October 2026, is organised by the Opera della Primaziale Pisana with the support of Fondazione Pisa and under the patronage of the Municipality of Pisa and the Department of Culture and Education.
Artistic director: Trevor Pinnock.
The festival features seven concerts to be held between the Cathedral and the Camposanto in Piazza del Duomo in Pisa: four major symphonic-choral events in the former, alternating with three equally distinguished evenings in the latter, featuring renowned performers and ensembles, in a programme that once again bridges the gap between the most illustrious past and contemporary expressions.
All concerts will begin at 9.00 pm.
PROGRAMME
Tuesday 8 September and Friday 2 October, 8.00 pm – welcome by brass and percussion
Tuesday 8 September, 9.00 pm – Cathedral
Hilary Cronin, soprano
Samantha Cobb, soprano
Jonathan Hanley, tenor
The Constellation Choir & Orchestra
John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
Johannes Brahms
Das Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 2, Op. 52 ‘Lobgesang’
Monday 14 September, 9.00 pm – Camposanto
Lucas Debargue, piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sonata No. 2, Op. 36
Lucas Debargue
Variations and Finale on Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’
Modest Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition
Thursday 17 September, 9.00 pm – Cathedral
Simone Cristicchi, Amara soloists
Mara Gaudenzi, mezzo-soprano
Turin Chamber Choir
Canova Chamber Orchestra
Guido Corti, conductor
Dario Tabbia, choir director
Carlo Guaitoli, piano and conductor
Angelo Privitera, keyboards and programming
Franco Battiato
Messa Arcaica
Franco Battiato
Canzoni Mistiche
Monday 21 September, 9.00 pm – Camposanto
Orchestra Cremona Antiqua
Gian Andrea Guerra, solo violin
Nicola Brovelli, solo cello
Massimiliano Pegorini, narrator
Antonio Greco, conductor at the harpsichord
Pietro Dinetto
Il Cantico delle creature
Winning piece of the 18th edition of the Anima Mundi Sacred Composition Competition
Francesco Geminiani
Capriccio for violin in C major
Antonio Vivaldi
Cello Concerto RV 401
Alessandro Scarlatti
Concerto grosso No. 1 in F minor
from Six Concertos in Seven Parts
Antonio Vivaldi
Violin Concerto RV 277 ‘Il favorito’
Francesco Geminiani
Concerto grosso in D minor ‘La follia’
Thursday 24 September, 9.00 pm – Cathedral
Sydney Mancasola, soprano
Daniel Behle, tenor
Markus Werba, baritone
Siena Cathedral Choir “Guido Chigi Saracini”
Orchestra della Toscana
James Conlon, conductor
Lorenzo Donati, choir director
Joseph Haydn
Die Schöpfung Hob.XXI:2
Tuesday 29 September, 9.00 pm – Camposanto
Estonian National Male Choir
Mikk Üleoja, conductor
Marco Arlotti, organ
Salve Regina
Arvo Pärt
…Which Was the Son of…
Riho Esko Maimets
Salve Regina
Arvo Pärt
Zwei Beter
Tõnis Kaumann
Hanna kiidulaul
Arvo Pärt
And One of the Pharisees…
Gabriel Fauré
Pavane (organ)
Giovanni Bonato
Sügav rahu
Arvo Pärt
Trivium (organ)
Rudolf Tobias
Otsekui hirv kisendab
Eks teie tea
Friday 2 October, 9.00 pm – Cathedral
Regula Mühlemann, soprano
Krešimir Stražanac, bass
WDR Rundfunkchor
NDR Vokalensemble
NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover
Trevor Pinnock, conductor
Johannes Brahms
Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45
Music and solidarity: a tangible commitment
Once again this year, the Anima Mundi audience will have the opportunity to support, through voluntary donations, a number of solidarity and welfare projects in the local area. The initiative is organised by the Diocesan Caritas of Pisa and represents a simple gesture that transforms the experience of listening to great music into an act of solidarity, reinforcing the message that artistic beauty is never an end in itself, but can become a means of healing and fostering responsibility towards others.
Ticket Office
Free admission with a ticket.
Tickets for all scheduled concerts can be booked exclusively online from 11:00 on 2 September 2026.
Info www.opapisa.it
